Zakirin
The first customer example of the BMW Skytop allocated to the United Arab Emirates has been sighted on public roads wearing Sharjah licence plates, marking an early Middle Eastern appearance for the German automaker’s ultra-exclusive coachbuilt two-seater roadster.
- The first BMW Skytop delivered to the UAE has been seen operating on public roads in Sharjah, representing one of only 50 units scheduled for global production.
- Approved for a strictly limited run following its debut at the 2024 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, each vehicle commanded an estimated base price of $580,000 (roughly RM2.5 million) and sold out prior to delivery.
- Underpinned by mechanical hardware from the BMW M8 Competition, the roadster pairs a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 (625 PS / 750 Nm) with an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission and M xDrive all-wheel drive, enabling a 0–100 km/h sprint in 3.3 seconds.
The Skytop project originated in May 2024 as a design concept showcased on the shores of Lake Como at Villa d’Este.Intended as an open-air styling homage referencing historic roadsters such as the BMW 507 and Z8, positive feedback from collectors prompted BMW management to commission a production batch of 50 units. All build allocations were fully committed to private buyers before public deliveries commenced.
| Technical & Vehicle Metric | Manufacturer Specification |
| Global Allocation | Strictly limited to 50 units worldwide (Sold Out) |
| Chassis Platform | BMW CLAR architecture (Shared with M8 Competition) |
| Engine Configuration | 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 (S63) |
| Power Output | 625 PS (460 kW / 617 hp) @ 6,000 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 750 Nm @ 1,800–5,860 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed M Steptronic automatic |
| Driveline | M xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive |
| Acceleration (0–100 km/h) | 3.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h (Electronically governed; 305 km/h with M Driver’s Package) |
| Roof Mechanism | Removable two-piece leather-trimmed targa panels (Stowable in boot) |
| Base Price | Approximately $580,000 (~RM2.5 million) before regional taxes |
Underneath its sculpted exterior shell, the Skytop carries the mechanical running gear of the BMW M8 Competition.Power is generated by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine calibrated to produce 625 PS and 750 Nm of torque.Output is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission matched with BMW’s variable M xDrive all-wheel-drive system.This powertrain enables the coachbuilt roadster to complete the 0–100 km/h acceleration benchmark in 3.3 seconds, matching the standard M8 Competition.
The exterior styling departs significantly from standard production lines, adopting a pronounced forward-slanting “shark-nose” front end and clean character surfacing:
- Front End & Lighting: An illuminated Iconic Glow kidney grille flanked by the thinnest LED headlamp units engineered by BMW, incorporating slim daytime running light signatures.
- Targa Roof Architecture: The profile integrates a fixed roll-over bar structure behind the cabin seats, framing a two-piece removable targa roof. Both roof panels are wrapped in exterior-grade leather and dismount manually to fit within a bespoke compartment in the rear boot.
- Aerodynamics & Rear Fascia: Conventional exterior door handles are substituted with integrated winglet pulls set into the window sill line, while the rear deck terminates in horizontal LED taillight blades above twin dual-exit exhaust pipes.
The interior layout retains the digital driver interface and core architecture of the 8 Series cockpit, elevated with bespoke handcrafted cabin materials. Surfaces are finished in monochrome reddish-brown leather with brogue-style decorative perforations extending across the sports seats and interior panels, paired with precision-cut crystal glass elements on the gear selector lever and central controller dial.
Global distribution of the 50 customer allocations continues throughout 2026, with the sighting of this Sharjah-plated unit representing the model’s first operational appearance in the Middle East.
